Worship at the center…

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A great comment was made by someone at CPCC the other day, reminding us that whatever we do as a church — including evangelism and outreach — must flow out of worship. He had just read the following (from an OPC publication, available online), where author Larry Wilson quotes John Piper. It is one of my favorite points made by Piper, and its significance is worth digesting…

But our Lord Jesus declares that God is seeking worshipers (John 4:23–24)! As we grow in our love for God, we will, like John Calvin, grow in our zeal that God be truly worshiped, as well as truly known. If our Lord grants such zeal, it will drive reformation and renewal in every aspect of the church’s life. It will even renew our evangelistic and missionary zeal. John Piper helpfully exhorts:

Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man…. Worship… is the fuel and goal of missions…. When the flame of worship burns with the heat of God’s true worth, the light of missions will shine to the most remote peoples on earth…. Where passion for God is weak, zeal for missions will be weak. Churches that are not centered on the exaltation of the majesty and beauty of God will scarcely kindle a fervent desire to “declare his glory among the nations” (Ps. 96:3). Even outsiders feel the disparity between the boldness of our claim upon the nations and the blandness of our engagement with God. (John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad [Baker, 1993], pp. 11–12)

It is of the utmost importance, then, that our hearts be gripped by the real point of worship.

Amen! The whole of Larry Wilson’s article, THE REAL POINT OF WORSHIP, can be found here.
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Our daughter turns 18 & graduates…

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If you wondered why I had not been posting in several days, the reason is: higher priorities (family)! P0139123Kathryn Anne is now 18 and a high school graduate! Laurel and I are so very proud of her, and so very thankful to God for her, and for these landmark moments in her life.

She has been blessed by her Lord, and Kathryn is a blessing to us all.

I am still reflecting on all my deep emotions, my thoughts and my prayers for her that I hardly know what to post here on The Breadline (but I hope that time will come). I can share this with you — I was asked to pray at her graduation ceremony (with 23 other home schoolers assembled for this very purpose). Here is, in essence, what I prayed…

Almighty God, our Father in heaven,

Surely “our cup runneth over” with joy and love for our graduates; our hearts & minds are amazed & satisfied with all You have done to bring us to this graduation day. We again praise You, and thank You!

I also pray, Lord, seeking Your future blessings upon each of these graduates and their families. Great changes are afoot in their lives and our lives. These are the days for which we have raised and educated them.

Lord, in these days of change and opportunity, continue to shepherd these young men & women. Watch over them as they go out from us, protect them as they live in far away places & learn new things, and guide them as they build new relationships.

May they often call out to You in prayer, and patiently await Your answer. May Your Word be a light to their feet, and a lamp to their path. May the Holy Spirit guard their hearts and sanctify their minds.

And as You bless us – graduates and families alike – may others see Your grace at work in us, and give glory to You, our Father in heaven.

This I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our risen Lord,

Amen.

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